Contracts

[wangta]

What about a contract that -

Doesn't list how you can be terminated including notice for firing,

Doesn't give a probation period,

Does that mean you can be told to go when the management feels like you're not suitable?

[wagyl]

I presume you are talking about employment contracts. The advice you get for free is worth every Yen you pay, but the default standard where not otherwise specified in the contract (and often this default applies notwithstanding more severe conditions stated in the contract) is summarised by the crowd of editors at wikipedia.

[wangta]

Thanks but no thanks.

To anybody reading this, can you let me know what the deal is if a contract for a foreigner working in Japan at an eikaiwa doesn't specify the probation period, the period you can give for notification of leaving, the period the employer can give for notification of termination - those kinds of things.

I've got experience in Japan but my contracts always specified those things and more.

Thanks for anybody who can answer clearly.

[wagyl]

Jesus does the link need to be more specific then? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_l ... ermination

[wangta]

Sorry and thanks a lot. Just dealing at the moment with a very short contract that's lacking detail. My vet red flag radar is on to the max but the school does seem fine. Any ideas why they want to foist a very undetailed contract on me? It's better than some of the hitleresque garbage I've seen other people sign with too much detail but I'm still concerned.

[wagyl]

Most standard boilerplate employment contracts that I have seen do spell out advance warning termination periods for both parties, but they also give no better and no worse than those standard default periods set out in the labour law. It may be that they just want to save ink used to replicate the standard terms, and may be otherwise fine, especially if the contract spells out what is important to you in sufficient detail. Be aware that employers (and employees) who want to be bastards find a way to be a bastard no matter what is written in the contract, and in most cases it becomes too much effort to follow up and try to obtain recompense in any event, so it is all a moot point.

If the school seems cool otherwise, why not ask them directly, or ask to have terms included in the contract? Personally in my opinion you are amply protected by the labour law, and asking to have terms included is akin to a prenuptual agreement: deciding in advance how to end a relationship isn't always the best way to enter a relationship.